Tropical storm kills 8 in Philippines; 11 missing

A tropical storm whipped up a tornado, triggered a landslide and overturned boats as it cut across the northern Philippines, leaving at least eight dead and 11 missing amid widespread flooding, officials said.

A tropical storm whipped up a tornado, triggered a landslide and overturned boats as it cut across the northern Philippines, leaving at least eight dead and 11 missing amid widespread flooding, officials said.

Storm Nangka, with winds of 34 miles (55 kilometers) per hour and gusts of up to 56 mph (90 kph), moved into the South China Sea west of Manila overnight and was expected to track northwest toward the Taiwan Strait this weekend, forecasters said on Thursday. Nearly 10,000 people were stranded aboard hundreds of ferries and motorboats, which were ordered to stay docked for safety. Two people died when a landslide buried their house in southern Cagayan de Oro city after days of heavy rain, the national disaster agency reported.

In mountainous Quezon province, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of Manila, a tornado struck a fishing boat that had taken cover in a cove, killing four fishermen and injuring two others late on Tuesday.

All six were sleeping on the boat near Perez township when the tornado hit, Mayor Pepito Reyes said.

Two people drowned in central Cebu province on Tuesday. Eleven others, including five fishermen, disappeared in floodwaters and rough seas in eastern Samar Island and nearby provinces, officials said.

Huge waves overturned a passenger boat off central Mactan Island on Tuesday, but a coast guard ship rescued all 13 aboard who swam for hours waiting for help, officials said.

A passing ferry reportedly refused to come to their aid, and the crew could face criminal charges, the coast guard chief, Adm. Wilfredo Tamayo, told Radio DZBB, adding the ferry crew told him their ship was too far away and they did not notice the capsized boat.

Classes in Manila and neighboring areas remained suspended for the second day on Thursday.